Day: April 30, 2024

Azerbaijan puts activist in pre-trial custody on smuggling charge he denies  Reuters

Azerbaijan informs about the injury of a serviceman as a result of a mine explosion  ARMENPRESS

Pashinyan falsely blames Armenia’s problems on trauma from the 1915 Genocide  Armenian Weekly

Greater Washington Armenian community March for Justice for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-2024  Armenian Weekly

PM Nikol Pashinyan, President Vahagn Khachaturyan, National Assembly President Alen Simonyan and top leadership of the Armenian government visiting Tsitsernakaberd (RA Prime Minister’s office, April 24, 2024)

With each passing day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statements contradicting Armenia’s national interests are becoming increasingly alarming.

Pashinyan started by denigrating Mt. Ararat, the preeminent Armenian symbol. He then mocked Armenia’s coat of arms, questioning why there is a lion on it, claiming that there are no lions in Armenia. With this statement, Pashinyan made three factual errors:

1) He did not seem to realize that the lion symbolizes courage and strength. It has nothing to do with whether there are lions in Armenia or not.

2) There are over a dozen countries that have a lion on their coat of arms without having a single lion in their countries.

3) He is also incorrect that there are no lions in Armenia. A well-known oligarch has had several lions in his Yerevan mansion for many years.

The Prime Minister then made abusive remarks about Armenia’s national anthem, using the excuse that it contains the word “enemy.” There are several other countries that have the word enemy in their national anthems.

Pashinyan went on to complain that what is now called “Army of Armenians” (Hayots Panag) should be “Armenia’s Army” (Hayastani Panag), and that textbooks on the “History of Armenians” (Hayots Badmoutyoun) should be called “Armenia’s History” (Hayastani Badmoutyoun). He also wants to distance today’s Armenia from its past by contrasting “Real Armenia” with “Historical Armenia.” He then suggested, in line with Pres. Ilham Aliyev’s demand, that Armenia adopt a new constitution deleting the references to Artsakh and the Armenian Genocide.

Last week, I wrote about one of Pashinyan’s top lieutenant’s incredible suggestion to make a list of all 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. This is an indirect way of questioning the veracity of the Armenian Genocide.

All of these statements indicate that Pashinyan is retreating from Armenia and Armenians’ nationalist stances to appease Azerbaijan and Turkey.

To make matters worse, on April 24, 2024, the Prime Minister issued a statement full of confusing words, which reflect his unstable mental state. He referred to the Armenian Genocide as Meds Yeghern (Great Crime) 11 times and only four times as genocide. Meds Yeghern is a term that Armenians used until the 1940s to describe the Genocide before the term genocide was coined by Raphael Lemkin. Since then, the proper and legal term that has been used is genocide or Tseghasbanoutyoun, in Armenian.

It does not come as a surprise that Pashinyan, in his April 24 statement, once again obfuscated the meaning of the term genocide, thus continuing his attempts to downplay Armenian national symbols and terminology.

Pashinyan complained that due to the Meds Yeghern, Armenia often deals with other countries in a state of trauma or shock: “For this reason, sometimes we cannot correctly distinguish the realities and factors, historical processes and predictable horizons. Maybe this is also the reason why we get new shocks, reliving the trauma of the Armenian Genocide as a legacy and as a tradition.”

By making such a statement, Pashinyan is blaming the trauma from the Genocide of 1915 for his incompetent decisions and mismanagement of the state. While it is true that there is such a thing as transgenerational trauma, I would advise the Prime Minister to look at his own inability to rule rather than the trauma from the Genocide.

Pashinyan then surprisingly suggested that Armenians “stop searching for a homeland, because we have found that homeland, our Promised Land, where milk and honey flow.”

It appears that Pashinyan has lost all perceptions of reality! He is describing Armenia with its existential problems as “the Promised Land where milk and honey flow!” More likely, he and his family are the ones living a luxurious life at the Armenian taxpayers’ expense.

The only people who were pleased with Pashinyan’s April 24 message are the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey, Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. An indication of that pleasure was the crowd of Turks gathered on April 24 in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., chanting: “Pashinyan, Pashinyan, Pashinyan,” in the faces of Armenian protesters.

The President of Turkey, as he has done on every April 24 ever since 2014, issued a statement trying to fool the international community that he is acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. He actually lumped together Armenians, Turks and everyone else “who passed away or were martyred as a consequence of armed conflicts, rebellions, gang violence and terrorist acts” during “World War I.” He thus misrepresented the Armenian victims of genocide as war casualties. He described “the 1915 events” not as genocide, but a “tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.”

In a direct message to Pashinyan, Erdogan stated that “Türkiye’s ties with Armenia…appear to depend on Yerevan’s stance on the issue [of genocide]…A new order is being established in the region, and it is time to set aside baseless claims. It is time to move forward with realities on the ground. It is better than moving forward with fabrications, tales.” This sounds very similar to what Pashinyan is trying to do. Erdogan made the intent of his message more obvious when he said: “Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan understands this [reality].” As a final dig, Erdogan stated: “I hope Armenia escapes from the darkness it was condemned to, thanks to its diaspora, and chooses the path of new beginnings.”

The true meaning of Erdogan’s words was revealed when the Istanbul Governor’s Office once again banned the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April 24. Actions speak louder than words!

Author information

The post Pashinyan falsely blames Armenia’s problems on trauma from the 1915 Genocide appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

Homenetmen Washington D.C. Scouting Troop 1918 member and AYF-YOARF D.C. “Sevan” Junior Chapter chair Meghri Aguilian

The following are remarks offered by AYF-YOARF Washington D.C. “Sevan” Junior Chapter Chair Meghri Aguilian in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence—challenging counter-protesters’ denials—during the “March for Justice” held on April 24, 2024.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve come to Washington, D.C., more often for protests than for fun outings. Growing up, my friends in school would ask me why I would go to a protest, holding a “grudge” for a crime that happened over a hundred years ago. “Forgive and forget,” I was told.  

Forgive and forget? Never.

The reason is my great-grandmother, Takouhi, who was torn away from her family, forced to flee her home, leaving the only life she knew behind. No belongings. No goodbyes.

My great-grandmother Takouhi, whose husband was killed before her eyes, among thousands of others, was forced to march from Kilis, Armenia, to the scorching desert of Der Zor, Syria.

My great-grandmother Takouhi, who witnessed unspeakable horrors, who saw those who fell out of line of the caravans shot in cold blood, who saw only an endless river of tears, blood and no hope in her path.

My great-grandmother Takouhi, who watched as those around her slowly starved to death.

My great-grandmother Takouhi, whose body grew too weak and was too malnourished to breastfeed her baby, forced her to leave her three-month-old on a sidewalk, hoping someone would take pity on the infant and save her from death.

My great-grandmother Takouhi, who gave her six-year-old son away to an Arab, knowing that she would die and could at least save her son from the same cruel fate.

My great-grandmother Takouhi, whose clothes and dignity were taken from her and hundreds of other women, as they were forced to march naked, covering their bodies with mud out of shame as the Turkish soldiers delighted. Her skin was pale, cracked, broken and burnt from the endless sun. Her body was covered in bruises, dirt and endless proof of abuse. But my great-grandmother Takouhi, who survived all odds, who stayed strong despite all that happened to her, hid under the rocks of a transport cart to her salvation. 

People would ask me, “Why do you do it? Why put your time and energy into a lost cause?” 

My answer to them is:

I will march in the sun, in my daraz, even when I am drenched in sweat, for it is nothing compared to the agonizing heat my great-grandmother marched through.

I will march in these uncomfortable shoes even when my feet are sore and blister, for it is nothing compared to the hundreds of miles of endless suffering our ancestors endured. 

And when the enemy demands I forget, I will shout even when my throat is sore. I will proudly carry my flag even when my arms hurt from the heavy strain. I will march even when I’ve grown old. I will protest until I wither away. I will pass on the story of my great-grandmother to my children and grandchildren, and they will follow in my footsteps to fight against the neverending injustices against our people.

Ո՛չ սիրելիներ, ես երբե՛ք չեմ ներեր թուրքին, որովհետեւ Թագուհի մեծ մայրս մէկ պատճառ է այն մէկ ու կէս միլիոն պատճառներէն, որոնց համար թուրքը ներում չունի:  Մենք բոլո՛րս, պարտաւոր ենք յիշել, ու պարտաւոր ենք պահանջել իրենց արդար դատի ճանաչումը եւ հատուցումը:

Հայոց Ցեղասպանութիւնը՝ պատմական գիրքերու մէջ արձանագրուած անցեալի էջ մը չէ՛ որ թերթենք: Հայոց Ցեղասպանութիւնը ներկայ իրականութիւն է, որուն մենք անգամ մը եւս ականատես եղանք ամիսներ առաջ Արցախի մէջ: Մենք տեսանք թէ ինչպէս հայոց եղեռնէն 108 տարիներ անցած, ազերի թուրքը 10 ամիսներ մեր սիրելի արցախահայութեանը շրջափակումի մէջ պահելէ ետք, զանոնք ենթարկեց 2-րդ ցեղասպանութեան եւ բռնագաղթի: 

Երբե՛ք ներում չկայ թուրք եւ ազերի վայրագ եւ ցեղասպան եղբայրներուն: Կայ միա՛յն ու միա՛յն պայքա՜ր: Պայքա՜ր, մինչեւ որ վերականգնուին մեր արդար իրաւունքները:  Ընկրկիլ չկա՛յ, յոգնիլ չկա՛յ, որքան ալ երկար, դժուար եւ փշոտ ըլլայ մեր պայքարի ճամբան, որովհետեւ մեր դժուարութիւնները ոչի՛նչ են հայրենազրկումին դիմաց եւ այն տառապանքներուն դիմաց որոնք կրեցին մեր ազգի զաւակները գաղթի ճամբուն վրայ՝ ջարդարար թուրքերու ձեռքով: 

Սիրելիներ, մեր պայքարը արդա՜ր է, եւ մեր պայքարի վախճանը պիտի ըլլայ միայն ու միայն յաղթանա՛կը:

Author information

The post Takouhi appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

AYF D.C. “Ani” Chapter Hai Tahd Committee chair Sune Hamparian

The following are remarks offered by AYF-YOARF Washington D.C. “Ani” Chapter Hai Tahd Committee chair Sune Hamparian in front of the White House during the annual “March for Justice” held on April 24, 2024.

I can see myself at this protest from years past. 

Hearing the stories of survivors, and for the first time – as a young girl – seeing that the world was filled with a level of pain, an amount of cruelty I could not have imagined. 

Remembering my own great-grandmother Zevart, who was orphaned and forced to march through the blazing desert, to march under the gaze of an indifferent sun, to march as those around her were either shot, starved or drowned to death. 

I often had a hard time keeping the tears out of my eyes.

But I found strength, and I took comfort in the phrase “1915 Never Again.”

1915 Never Again. 

Those were the words we chanted. 

Those were the words we were promised.

Was their meaning unclear, or were our voices not loud enough, not strong enough, not demanding enough, not desperate enough? Did our hearts not show enough sorrow? Were our tears – was our blood – not enough to prevent us from seeing 1915 once again?

I was naïve. I did not understand that 1915 was neither the start nor the end of our pain. 

That it started before the Hamidian massacres of the 1890s, the loss of Western Armenia, continuing through the taking of Nakhichevan, to the pogroms of Sumgait, Baku and Kirovapat, to the genocide of Artsakh, to the future that I fear faces the villages the Armenian government is so easily surrendering. 

Genocide is not contained in the past. Genocide is the reality we see every day. 

Genocide is Armenian children hiding in bunkers and covering their ears as they ask their mothers when the bombs will stop. 

It is families starved, left in the dark with the looming threat of an attack they cannot defend against. 

It is Gurgen Markarian, axed to death in his sleep at a NATO conference. 

It is the children of David Bek who go to school across from Azeri snipers. Mere feet away from that same enemy that posted photos of Armenian women they wanted to rape, that proudly mutilated and killed Armenian soldiers, then posted trophy videos online. 

Genocide is the destruction of our lives, the desecration of our graves and the erasure of our names from history. 

I ask myself: When will it stop?

When will it stop?

The truth is that genocide is not only the brutal killing of our people but the attempted destruction of our identity, our hope and our future. An effort to convince us that we are no more than the “remnants of the sword” that the Turks and Azerbaijanis claim us to be. 

When will they stop?

They will not stop.

And we will not sit and wait for them to stop.

I cannot sit and wait for the village of Artsvanik, the place I call home, to suffer the same fate as Artsakh.

I cannot sit and wait for the people I know – by name, by face, by smile – to face the same destiny. 

So, as Azerbaijan tests the waters to see what the world will let them do, let us make our voices clear. We will not be complacent as Azerbaijan murders our people.

We will fight – giving every ounce of ourselves to this cause. 

We will not bend.

We will not bow. 

We will not break. 

We will rise. 

We will rise and break the cycle of genocide. 

Gamavor Banak Harach.

Author information

The post Never Again appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.

Homenetmen Washington D.C. Troop 1918 and AYF D.C. “Ani” Chapter member Maria Stepanyan

The following are remarks offered by AYF-YOARF Washington D.C. “Ani” Chapter member Maria Stepanyan in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy at the start of the annual “March for Justice” held on April 24, 2024.

A line in one of my favorite Armenian songs, “Paronayk Spaner” [Պարոնայք Սպաներ] gives me goosebumps, brings me to tears, every time I hear it: “zohvets hor nman, vor apri vortin” [he died like his father, so that his son would live.]” 

And after losing Artsakh, losing so many priceless lives, I wonder: for how long will Armenians have to sacrifice their lives like their ancestors so that the future generations can live, future generations that 30 years later, give up their lives for the same struggle? 

In the Bible, Jesus says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” That’s what our ancestors have been doing for centuries – laying down their lives for their friends, their sons and daughters, their country. 

At the moment, I think I would do it, too. I think that were I given the choice to fight for Armenia, of course, I wouldn’t hesitate a second. 

And then I ask myself, am I doing the bare minimum as an Armenian in the Diaspora, without even mentioning sacrificing my life? Do I pray for Armenia every single morning when I open my eyes and every night when I go to bed? Do I call my U.S. representatives every day, demanding that they stand on the right side of history and take action? Do I go to every protest and every Armenian advocacy event? Do I put in everything I can to maintain and grow our precious faith, our unique culture and our ancient language? Do I try my best to unify our people instead of split us apart? 

Sireliner, today, this is our bare minimum as Diaspora Armenians. Instead of looking at this devastating loss of Artsakh as the end, I urge us all, myself included, to see it as a wake-up call. Instead of giving up and losing hope, let’s decide, each and every one of us, to do our bare minimum. 

We should praise God everyday that we don’t need to sacrifice our lives and instead snatch this opportunity to use our lives to make sure that no more 18-year-old boys with bright futures and loving families awaiting them – boys that at my age are given a burden too heavy for any man – have to sacrifice their lives for our country. 

Let’s put aside our differences, let’s sacrifice a bit of our free time – five minutes out of every day – not only for the future, so that our sons and daughters still have a place to call home, but for the present of every single boy standing on our uncertain borders.

Author information

The post “He died like his father, so his son could live” appeared first on The Armenian Weekly.